Sign.



W. J. BAILEY.

SIGN.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 1, 1909.

Patented Sept; 14, 1909. I

ANDREW, 5. Guam on. 'morrmu'muummsns. WASWNOTDN n c UNE ATES ATENT OFFICE.

Application filed February 1, 1909.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. BAILEY, a citizen of the United States of America, re siding at itspinwall, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signs, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to signs, and the invention has for its object-to provide a sign for detachable letters, that can be easily removed, and rearranged.

The invention aims to provide a sign thatcan be advantageously used by large department stores, it being possible to change the wording of the sign to permit of the sign being used in various departments for advertising different sales. To this end, I provide a sign board with longitudinal slots or openings, and provide the rear faces of letters with clips or holders adapted to extend into the slots or grooves and retain the letters in place.

The detail construction entering into my invention will be hereinafter more specifically pointed out and then claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a form of sign in accordance with this invention, Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view f the same, Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sec tional view of a portion of the sign showing a letter attached thereto, Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the sign, Fig. 5 is an enlarged elevation of a letter used, Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional View of a metallic letter used in connection with the sign.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 8 denotes a plate provided on its outer face with longitudinally-extending parallel dove-tailed ribs 9 formed by rolling or pressing the plate 8. The plate 8 is mounted in a casing 10 which has an open front and is furthermore provided with a detached back 11, and a removable end piece 12 provided with dovetailed blocks 13 adapted to engage in the dove-tailed grooves 14 formed by the ribs 9 whereby said end piece is detachably-connected in position.

The ribs 9 are adapted to support the letters of the sign, as well as connect the letters to the plate 8, the letters being provided with suitable fasteners which engage the top and bottom walls of the ribs and in this connection it will be stated that the letters are indicated by the reference character 4 and if Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 14., 1909.

Serial No. 475,464.

made of wood or composition have secured to the rear face thereof at the top and bottom, through the medium of the hold fast devices 1, fasteners 15. Each top fastener 15 consists of a vertically-extending body portion terminating at its top in a rearwardly and downwardly-inclined coupling extension which engages with the top wall of a rib. The fastener at the bottom of the 2 rear of the letter is of the same construction as the top fastener, but oppositely-disposed with respect thereto so that the extension will engage the bottom wall of the rib 9.

If the letters are made of metal, a sectional view of the metal letter being shown in Fig. 6, and indicated by the reference character 4 it is provided at its top with an integral extension which projects rearwardly of the letter and downwardly at an inclination as at 15 The bottom of the letter 4 has formed integral therewith an extension 15 which is oppositely-disposed wit-h respect to the extension 15 The extensions 15 and 15 perform the same function as the fasteners 15 and are adapted to engage the top and bottom walls of the rib 9.

The detachable end 12 of the casing 10 allows of the mounting of the letters upon the ribs 9, and in this connection it will be said that by removing the end wall 12 the letters can be slid upon the rib 9 from the open end of the casing.

To facilitate the mounting of the letters on large signs, the ribs 9 are cut away as at 16, to provide clearances for the fasteners 15. The cut away portions 16 dispense with the removing of the end wall 12, as the fasteners 15 can be inserted through said cut away portions and the letters then shifted to position upon the rib.

It is apparent from the construction of the sign heretofore set forth that it can be used for interior and exterior display advertising, and since the letters are interchangeable various matter can be advertised from day to day without necessitating purchase of specially constructed signs.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, is

1. A sign comprising a casing having an open front, a plate mounted insaid casing and provided with a longitudinally-extending dovetailed rib, letters provided with fastening devices engaging said rib for coupling the letters to the plate and said casing provided with a removable end whereby the letters can be mounted upon the rib said end provided With an extension engaging in the groove formed by the rib for connecting said end in position.

2. A sign comprisinga casing having an open front, a plate mounted in said casing and having projecting from its front the longitudinally-extending dove-tailed rib for supporting letters, said casing having one end removable, and an extension projecting from said end and adapted to engage in the groove formed by the rib for securing said end in position, sald removable end constituting means whereby the letters can be mounted upon the rib Without removing the 15 

